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| FC Carlow ready for biggest test |
| Monday, 04 May 2009 09:22 |
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FC Carlow manager Pat Purcell says that Monday's EA SPORTS Cup Second Round fixture against Waterford United is no ordinary match - it's the biggest game of his player's careers.  The club is currently enjoying its debut season in the League of Ireland, having entered this season's Newstalk A Championship. Having overcome fellow Newstalk A Championship side Cobh Ramblers in the First Round of the EA SPORTS Cup, the Carlow club now has the opportunity to face Waterford United, who are currently riding high in the First Division.  "It's going to be a big challenge for us," said Purcell. "They are flying in the First Division and they will be hopeful of gaining promotion back to the Premier Division. In Stephen Henderson they have a manager who has Premier Division experience, and a lot of their players also played in the top flight, so it's going to be tough for us but it's a challenge we are really looking forward to.  "This season is really a learning curve for us. Most of our players played in the Under-20 league last season, so it is a very young and inexperienced team. The guys are learning all the time and the fact that they are playing against very experienced sides in the Newstalk A Championship means that they learning a lot."  FC Carlow started their League of Ireland career with a 1-1 home draw against Cork City, followed by a 3-2 defeat of fellow Newstalk A Championship side Cobh Ramblers in the First Round of the EA SPORTS Cup. However, their last two matches have brought defeat, going down 3-0 to both Tralee Dynamos and Shamrock Rovers.  Purcell feels that it will take his players time to get used to playing at this level.   "I think the players were a bit complacent against Tralee Dynamos. Maybe they felt that Tralee weren't as big a name as some of the other clubs, but we were well beaten in that game. Shamrock Rovers came down to us in our last match and they brought a very good team, with the likes of Barry Murphy, Aidan Price and Padraig Amond all playing. It's very early days for us yet, and I think it will take a few games for the players to get used to playing at this level.  "The players are really enjoying it so far and Monday's match against Waterford is huge for us. We are only 90 minutes away from the Quarter Finals of the EA SPORTS Cup and we're playing a team that will be confident of being in the Premier Division next season.  "I have been involved in juvenile football for many years and one of the problems we always had was that there was no clear pathway for players in Carlow to move into the League of Ireland. The highest level they could go in Carlow was playing inter-league competitions, but now there is a pathway to play League of Ireland football. We have some very talented young players in Carlow and it is great to see them take an interest in how FC Carlow are getting on in the Newstalk A Championship - it shows them that they can progress to League of Ireland in Carlow too."  Monday, May 4th EA SPORTS Cup Second Round FC Carlow                 v         Waterford United Ballon                                     3.00pm  Cork City                   v         Wexford Youths Turner's Cross                        5.00pm  Galway United          v         Derry City Terryland Park                       3.00pm  Sligo Rovers               v         Finn Harps The Showgrounds                  6.00pm  Drogheda United       v         Sporting Fingal United Park                            6.00pm  Bohemians                 v         Shelbourne Dalymount Park                     7.45pm  St. Patrick's Athletic  v         Shamrock Rovers Richmond Park                      3.00pm   Tuesday, May 5th  EA SPORTS Cup Second Round  Athlone Town            v         UCD Athlone Town Stadium         7.45pm  |
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